Extensible table leg or the like



Feb. 15, 1955 A. E. PULS EIAL EXTENSIBLE TABLE LEG OR THE LIKE Filed April 10, 1951 United States Patent EXTENSIBLE TABLE LEG OR THE LIKE Alfred E. Puls, Cleveland, Ohio, and Edward R. Swenson, Metropolis, Ill., assignors to The Babee-Tenda License Corporation, Metropolis, III., a corporation of Delaware Application April 10, 1951, Serial No. 220,222

2 Claims. (Cl. 311-109) This invention relates to table legs, particularly to extensible table legs such as can be used for infant's safety tables, bridge tables, and the like.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an extensible table leg which comprises relatively movable leg sections wherein the leg is characterized by the positive engagement of the legs when the extensible leg is in both extended and retracted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table leg which is particularly suited for production from wood or similar material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table leg having a split lower portion for engaging an inner leg in different manners when the inner leg is in its extended or in its retracted position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extensible leg of the class described which is of relatively simple construction.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein several presently best known embodiments of the invention are shown, and wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the improved leg embodying the invention, with a portion of such leg being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the leg of Fig. 1 with the inner leg pulled out and secured in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 of the leg of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially broken away, showing a modification of the invention; and

.Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views corresponding to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, respectively, of a leg embodying a modification of the invention.

Reference now should be had to the details shown in the drawings, and an improved table leg of the invention is indicated in general by the numeral 11. Thisleg 11 includes an outer leg 12 and an inner or extensible leg 13. The lower portions of the outer leg 12 preferably are longitudinally split to form leg portions 14 and 15 with adjacent faces of such leg portions 14 and 15 normally being in parallel relation but spaced from each other. Thus the outer leg 12 may be formed from two sections, if desired, but in all events, a protruding block, or equivalent member, indicated at 16, is provided on the part of the outer leg 12 adjacent and immediately above the split leg portion 14. The block 16 is of such size that the upper part of the leg portion 15 can be abutted thereagainst to position the leg portions 14 and 15 in spaced but parallel relationship, as desired.

Preferably, as indicated in Fig. 3, each of the leg sections 14 and 15 is of substantially U-shape in section with the leg sections being positioned in opposed relation to form a center recess in the leg 11. Thus recesses 17 and 18 are provided in the leg sections 14 and 15, respectively, at the lower portions thereof. In some instances, the recesses 17 and 18 may extend the length of the leg sections 14 and 15 with the block 16 being a third member positioned between such leg sections at the upper portion thereof to place the leg sections in desired relation to each other.

As an important feature of the present invention, the

2,702,222 Patented Feb. 15, 1955 inner leg 13 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 19 at the lower portion thereof intermediate the ends of the leg 13. A bolt 20 normally extends through the outer leg 12 and extends through the slot 19 to limit the relative movement between the inner and outer legs to the length of the slot 19. Usually the bolt 20 has a wing nut 21 or similar member on the end thereof and thus the bolt 20 can be used for compressing the lower portions of the leg sections 14 and 15 inwardly towards the inner leg 13 and aid in retaining the inner leg in a given position. Positioning the inner leg 13 in its outermost position is facilitated by the formation of shoulders 22 on opposite sides of the inner leg at the portion of such inner leg immediately adjacent the lowermost end of the leg sections 14 and 15 when the inner leg 13 is in its extended position. Such shoulders 22 are provided by means of longitudinally extending, shallow recesses 23 formed in opposite sides of the inner leg 13. Fig. 2 of the drawings best shows that a substantial length at the upper end of the inner leg 13 is of the same width as the lowermost portion of such inner leg and this facilitates getting a tight positioning of the inner leg 13, even in its extended position, when the leg sections 14 and 15 are pressed in toward each other against the lower part of the inner leg. Normally the inner leg 13 is received fairly snugly in the recesses 17 and 18 when the inner leg is in its retracted position.

If desired, the outer leg 12 can engage the shoulders 22 on the inner leg at the same time the bolt 20 is bearing upon the upper end of the slot 19 whereby a plurality of points of support are provided for the inner leg at such time, but some clearance usually is desirable. Usually the upper end of the inner leg 13 abuts on the lower end of the block 16 when the inner leg is in its retracted position and bolt 20 contacts the lower margin of the slot 19.

A modified embodiment of the invention is shown in the leg 30 shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. This leg 30 is similar in construction to the leg 11, except that a rivet or other similar member 31 extends between the spaced lower portions of an outer leg 32 of this embodiment of the invention. The rivet 31 passes through a slot (not shown) provided in the inner leg 33 for limiting relative movement between the inner and outer legs. As a feature of this embodiment of this invention, a strap-type of a compression member, indicated by the numeral 34, has a screw or bolt 35 engaged therewith to draw adjacent ends of the strap 34 together and compress the lower end of the outer leg 32 a desired amount to lock the inner leg 33 in a given position. This inner leg usually has a shoulder portion thereon like the shoulders 22 provided on the leg 11. Usually a pair of bolts 35 are engaged with diametrically opposed portions of the strap member 34 so that this strap can be compressed against the leg 30 on opposite sides thereof to retain the legs in desired relation.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Fig. 5 wherein a leg 40 is provided and this leg is adapted to be positioned with an inner leg 41 being positioned in any of a plurality of given positions with relation to an outer leg 42 of this particular type of a split leg of the invention. Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings best show that complementary surfaces are provided on a pair of opposed sides of the inner leg 41 and in the surfaces of the outer leg 42 engaged therewith. Thus a waved or scalloped surface 43 is shown provided on opposite sides of the inner leg 41 whereas the recessed inner surfaces of the sections of the outer leg 42 are similarly waved or scalloped complementary to the surface 43, as indicated at the surface 44. Hence upon compressing the spaced lower end sections of the outer leg 42 towards each other, the surfaces 44 can be pressed into tight engagement with the waved surfaces 43 to secure a firm engagement with the inner leg to position it in any of a plurality of desired positions with relation to the outer leg 42.

Any suitable compression means may be provided with this embodiment of the invention and such means may comprise strap compression means 45 like the strap means referred to and shown in Fig. 4. It may be in some instances that it would be desirable to provide a slot in the inner leg 41 and to extend a bolt through the outer leg 42 and at least into a slot in the inner leg in a manner similar to the construction shown in Figs. 1 through 3 hereof to limit movement of the inner leg.

It will be appreciated that the improved legs of the invention may be made from any desired material. However, these legs can be conveniently and desirably formed from wood and have lower ends that can be easily bent into and out of engagement with no possible injury to the material forming the legs, and with no difficulty to the user of such legs. Brace arms (not shown) of any suitable construction may be associated with the legs of the invention for engagement with other table components and suitable pin or bracket means may also engage with the legs of the invention for securing them to the table in a desired manner. The legs, of course, can be painted or otherwise finished in any desired manner and usually have casters engaged with caster sockets 51 provided in the lower end of the inner leg of the leg 11 of the invention.

If desired, suitable metal reinforcing means (not shown) may be carried by the inner leg 13 at the shoulders thereof, or by the lower edges of the outer leg 12 if the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is made from wood.

Of course, the waved construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings may readily be changed over to any kind of a serrated or notched construction by which complementary shaped walls are provided on adjacent faces of the inner and outer legs for engaging them in fixed relation with each other.

It will be appreciated that in some instances the recess provided in the lower portion of the outer leg of the improved leg of the invention might be provided all in one section or portion of the table leg, if desired. However,

normally it is desired to position such recess centrally with relation to equal size split leg portions, but the leg could be made in other manners and with any suitable material without departing from the principles of the invention.

In view of the foregoing, it is submitted that a relatively inexpensive but sturdy extensible leg construction has been provided, which leg is made from materials that are normally available in large quantity and which will function satisfactorily for the purposes intended whereby the objects of the invention are thought to be achieved.

In some instances it might be desirable to make the inner leg of circular cross-section. Also, sometimes the lock shoulder, like the shoulder 22 shown in Fig. 1 may may be formed on only one side of the inner leg. Likewise the complementary surfaces 43 and 44 may only be provided on one edge of each leg. The outer leg of the structures of the invention can be clamped about the inner leg by any suitable or practical means. Such outer leg may be made of unitary or divided construction from members of desired shape. The portion of the inner leg that varies in size to provide a shoulder or scallop therein is considered to be the width of such inner leg.

While several complete embodiments have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of these particular embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. An extensible leg for a table or the like comprising an outer leg having a split lower portion formed in two sections which are immediately adjacent but normally spaced from each other, said outer leg also having recesses formed in the adjacent surfaces of the split for receiving an inner leg, an inner extension leg in telescoped engagement with the recesses in the lower portion of said outer leg and protruding therefrom when extended, means on said outer leg for compressing and bending the sections of the lower portion of said outer leg together to bind same against said inner leg, and means for limiting the relative movement between said inner and outer legs, said inner leg being snugly received in said recess in said outer leg in an uncompressed upper portion thereof, said inner leg having a pair of recesses in opposed surfaces thereof terminating in upwardly directed shoulders for engaging the lower end of said outer leg when the lower end thereof is compressed against said inner leg whereby said outer leg snugly engages said inner leg at a pair of vertically spaced locations.

2. An extensible leg for a table or the like comprising an outer leg having a longitudinally split lower portion the adjacent faces of which are normally in spaced relation, the split in said outer leg extending completely therethrough, said outer leg also having a recess formed in at least one of the adjacent surfaces of the split for receiving an inner leg, an inner extension leg in telescoped engagement with the recess in the lower portion of said outer leg and protruding therefrom when extended, means engaging said outer leg at the split lower portion thereof for compressing the lower portions of said outer leg together to bind it against said inner leg and lock the legs in assembled relation, and means for limiting the relative movement between said inner and outer legs, said extension leg having a pair of recesses in opposite sides thereof and upwardly directed shoulders at the lower ends of such recesses, and the lower end of said outer leg seating on said shoulders when compressed against said extension leg to retain said extension leg in its extended position.

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